For you Rado High-Tech Ceramic watch owners: How has your watch held up over time?
When I first got interested in watches just over a year ago whenever I walked past watch boutiques and dealers my eyes would be drawn to the "Rado" displays. At first I thought a lot of the brand's offerings were too "blingy" for my taste(Nothing wrong with that - just not my style 🙂 ) with the exception of the "Captain Cook" lines which I thought looked incredibly cool but too big(At the time I did not have the confidence to try on watches above a certain price point so I don't know if my wrists could get away with wearing it ☹......to be honest I still find it hard to ask! )
Over the past few months I've learnt a lot more about the brand: The use and combination of different materials, the extremely good build quality and the brand history. The "High-Tech Ceramic" and "Rado Hardmetal" intrigues me and I wanted to know from owners of Rado watches(who have owned these) how well the watches have held up from time, use and abuse.
This next part might be a bit off-topic(don't worry - I'll get back onto the topic I promise): I'm 30 in May and last year I hit rock bottom with my mental health - I'm recovering well and part of that is getting to grips with the impermanence of life: family, friendships etc etc. I'm slowly learning to accept this and to be thankful of things I have instead of resentful/ashamed of what I don't. In a slightly strange way of thinking: I've begun to have ideas of "Well, I'm accepting that I'm not going to be here forever - it would be nice if I could pass on something(like a watch 😄 ) to the people who mean a lot to me when I'm gone." I like the idea of passing down a watch which has been with me for years but looks brand new(Hell it would probably be easier for them to sell if they just needed the cash!).
Thanks for bearing with me 😛
Hi, I got bitten by the watch bug late last year and safe to say I am thoroughly addicted to all things related to watches. It's been fun learning all the cool details about watches like movements, ca...
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Nice ring - Tungsten seems to have a "dull glow" which I like(I guess it depends on the finishing - I am pretty uneducated in regards to materials)
Nice ring - Tungsten seems to have a "dull glow" which I like(I guess it depends on the finishing - I am pretty uneducated in regards to materials)
It looks a lot like Platinum:)
Good luck with your nice watch diversion , its a nice balm for my mental health . 30 I was divorced and in a crap place in my head . You will be ok , don’t be afraid ever, to be brave to talk about it . Im 62 this year and life has been good , the old saying the Universe can happen for you or to you , your call .
Good luck with your nice watch diversion , its a nice balm for my mental health . 30 I was divorced and in a crap place in my head . You will be ok , don’t be afraid ever, to be brave to talk about it . Im 62 this year and life has been good , the old saying the Universe can happen for you or to you , your call .
Thanks for your kindness, It's good to hear that things are going well for you. I am going through a tough process but I tell myself that it will be worth it
My wife has had a ceramic Rado for over 15 years and it looks like new with the exception of the stainless clasp. She also has a ceramic Chanel J12 that she wears more than any other watch. It still looks like brand new.
My wife has had a ceramic Rado for over 15 years and it looks like new with the exception of the stainless clasp. She also has a ceramic Chanel J12 that she wears more than any other watch. It still looks like brand new.
Wow, that's cool - would she mind sharing a picture of either?(all cool if she doesn't feel comfortable with that)
Wow, that's cool - would she mind sharing a picture of either?(all cool if she doesn't feel comfortable with that)
I’ll try to get some good pics tomorrow.
These are too shiny to get really good pics. The Rado is 15 years old and the Chanel is about one year (with extensive wear). There are no scratches or damage on either. Any flaw you might see is a reflection off the surface or things I didn’t see when I snapped the pic, like dust, cat hair, fingerprints or a smudge from body lotion. A light wipe with a cloth and better eyeglasses than mine will return them to showroom appearance.
These are too shiny to get really good pics. The Rado is 15 years old and the Chanel is about one year (with extensive wear). There are no scratches or damage on either. Any flaw you might see is a reflection off the surface or things I didn’t see when I snapped the pic, like dust, cat hair, fingerprints or a smudge from body lotion. A light wipe with a cloth and better eyeglasses than mine will return them to showroom appearance.
Whoa - you know. I've never been that much into "shiney" watches but I really like those two pieces. They are bright but not "blingy"(if that makes sense). Thank you and your wife for sharing the pictures with me. Absolutely nuts how unmarked they look(totally beats the crap out of my "Super Hard Coated" Seikos). Thanks again.
I think that any man or woman could rock that Chanel, it's very tastefully designed!
Whoa - you know. I've never been that much into "shiney" watches but I really like those two pieces. They are bright but not "blingy"(if that makes sense). Thank you and your wife for sharing the pictures with me. Absolutely nuts how unmarked they look(totally beats the crap out of my "Super Hard Coated" Seikos). Thanks again.
LOL. My wife was pretty hard on her watches back when she got the Rado. She borrowed my mint Explorer and gave it some solid “patina” within a couple of months. The ceramic was the perfect material for her.
She is getting much better now. I did have the Explorer polished at it’s ten year service and it still looks really good today.
LOL. My wife was pretty hard on her watches back when she got the Rado. She borrowed my mint Explorer and gave it some solid “patina” within a couple of months. The ceramic was the perfect material for her.
She is getting much better now. I did have the Explorer polished at it’s ten year service and it still looks really good today.
I am going to start calling my "Battle damage" patina from now on 😄
I think that any man or woman could rock that Chanel, it's very tastefully designed!
The Chanel J12 is an under appreciated watch because of the company’s fashion reputation. In addition to being a ceramic case and bracelet, it is a GPHG winner, it is 200m water resistant, 70 hour power reserve and it uses a COSC certified Kenissi movement much like Black Bay but with one more jewel to accommodate the date function. Chanel purchased a significant share in Kenissi so one might argue that it is just as “in-house” as the Black Bay movement, if the Black Bay is considered “in-house”.
It also uses a unique spring loaded butterfly clasp that’s really cool to use. It has an open case back to show the unique movement and rotor. My only complaint about this watch is that the orientation of the numbers in the date window should be turned 90° to face the wearer but I think that’s a subjective and trivial complaint on an otherwise well engineered and well built watch.
The Chanel J12 is an under appreciated watch because of the company’s fashion reputation. In addition to being a ceramic case and bracelet, it is a GPHG winner, it is 200m water resistant, 70 hour power reserve and it uses a COSC certified Kenissi movement much like Black Bay but with one more jewel to accommodate the date function. Chanel purchased a significant share in Kenissi so one might argue that it is just as “in-house” as the Black Bay movement, if the Black Bay is considered “in-house”.
It also uses a unique spring loaded butterfly clasp that’s really cool to use. It has an open case back to show the unique movement and rotor. My only complaint about this watch is that the orientation of the numbers in the date window should be turned 90° to face the wearer but I think that’s a subjective and trivial complaint on an otherwise well engineered and well built watch.
Whoa, that movement is a beauty(love what they have done with the rotor). I had no idea about Chanel's involvement with Kenissi. Thanks for sharing your knowledge - I am very happy I started this post I've learnt and seen a lot of cool new things. Cheers to you and your wife for sharing pictures of the watches. I think I may embark on a 5 year saving plan to get a Rado in the future (hopefully they do a ceramic Captain Cook 40mm and under at that point 😄 ) but with how watch prices are going up I may have to do without ☹ maybe I'll just pretend my Certina is made of ceramic and live in denial 😄
The regular Captain Cook is a great watch and the beads of rice doesn’t really show scratches.
The regular Captain Cook is a great watch and the beads of rice doesn’t really show scratches.
I knew you were a Rado's sales associate in disguise! (I must admit, the 37mm looks amazing! what size are the ones you have?)
My wife has the 37mm on her 5.5” wrist. I have the 42mm on my 6.75” wrist.
I find the 42mm wears small, more like a 40mm. Another point about the Captain Cook is that bezel slightly overhangs the case, protecting the sides a bit from scratching. Both of these still look great.
My wife has the 37mm on her 5.5” wrist. I have the 42mm on my 6.75” wrist.
I find the 42mm wears small, more like a 40mm. Another point about the Captain Cook is that bezel slightly overhangs the case, protecting the sides a bit from scratching. Both of these still look great.
I think I will summon up the courage to ask to try on the 43mm ceramic Captain Cook when I am next in town.. I have a 6.69 inch(17cm) wrist.
(might aswell try the "classic" Cooks too so I can find my "fit")